A major survey by the mental health charity Mind has suggested that workplace wellbeing support is worse in the public sector than in the private sector. The charity surveyed over 12,000 employees across the public and private sectors and found a higher prevalence of mental health problems in the public sector, as well as a lack of support available when people do speak up.
The UK public sector employs over 5.4 million people, almost 3 million of whom are employed by central Government alone. Mind’s survey found that public sector workers were over a third more likely to say their mental health was poor than their peers in the private sector (15 per cent versus 9 per cent), and far more likely to say they have felt anxious at work on several occasions over the last month (53 per cent compared to 43 per cent).
Public sector survey respondents said that, on average, they had taken nearly three days off sick in the last year because of their mental health, compared to just under one day on average for workers in the private sector. Almost half (48 per cent) of public sector workers said they had time off because of their mental health, compared with less than a third (32 per cent) of the private sector workforce.
The results show that public sector workers are more likely to disclose that they have a mental health problem, are more likely to be up front about it if they do take time off because of their mental health and are more likely to report that the workplace culture makes it possible for people to speak openly about their mental health. However, the research suggests that when they do open up, support isn’t always forthcoming. Less than half (49 per cent) of people said they felt supported when they disclosed mental health problems, compared with three in five (61 per cent) in the private sector.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “Mental health is one of the biggest domestic issues facing the next Government. More people than ever are speaking out about mental health and demanding change. As a nation our expectations for better mental health for all are higher than ever and the next government must rise to this challenge.
“A vital part of changing the lives of people with mental health problems is to tackle the culture of fear and silence in the workplace that stops people opening up about what they are experiencing. This data shows that the public sector in particular is making progress here. But it’s also vital that when people do speak out they get the right help and support at the right time. It’s clear there is still a long way to go in both the public and private sector to address the gap between people asking for support and actually getting what they need.”